Cleveland Browns: Miles Austin ready to go at wide receiver

Miles Austin is used to proving himself.
As an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth, Austin had to emerge from anonymity to win a spot with the Dallas Cowboys.
While Austin is much more of a household name now than he was in 2006, when he signed with the Cowboys, he finds himself in a proving ground once again. He is embarking on a mission to re-establish himself as a Cleveland Brown when training camp begins July 26.

After being released by Dallas in March, Austin signed a free-agent contract with the Browns.
“I’m fortunate to be in this situation and have another opportunity to go out and prove myself again,” said Austin on July 17, prior to taking part in the Joe Haden & Friends Celebrity Softball Game at Classic Park in Eastlake.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Austin said he doesn’t feel exactly like a rookie, but there are similarities between the situations, such as learning new teammates and a new locker room.
“Regardless (the year), I always felt I had to go out and prove myself,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going out and playing again.”
Austin’s tenure in Dallas was successful. In eight years, he piled up 301 receptions for 4,481 yards (14.9-yard average) and 34 touchdowns with the Cowboys.
But 2013 was a season of disappointment. He missed five games with a left hamstring injury. He was held without a reception in his final two games of the season.
Despite being cut loose by the team that gave him a chance, Austin embraces the new opportunity in Cleveland. He said his goals are to be a good teammate, better himself individually and help the Browns succeed as a team.
The Browns could use all three, especially the part about bettering himself individually, considering the question marks surrounding the Browns receiving corp.
The Browns’ leading pass-catchers last year were Josh Gordon (87 catches, 1,646 yards), Jordan Cameron (80-917), Chris Ogbonnaya (48-343), Davone Bess (42-362) and Greg Little (41-465). Bess and Little are no longer with the team, Gordon is facing a possible year-long suspension from the NFL and Ogbonnaya is a running back whose playing time will take a hit with Ben Tate and others on the roster this year.
The only sure thing on the Browns’ receiving list now is Cameron, though new receivers Andrew Hawkins and Nate Burleson are expected to play large roles this year.
A healthy, productive Austin would help.
“I’m going to go out there and try my best whether I’m blocking, catching, being a good teammate or doing what needs to be done in the locker room or on the field,” Austin said. “That’s really what my goal is.”
It starts with work ethic, in Austin’s estimation. The 6-foot-2, 216-pounder said that’s the one constant a player can control — effort.
He promises to give it.
“I try to do the things the right way, leading by example,” he said. “Practice hard, showing up to work on time ... things like that speak volumes and are positives for the locker room. If you practice hard, other people have to practice hard and the team gets better.”
Austin was held out of OTA and minicamp exercises. But when training camp opens on July 26, he said he will be ready to go to make his mark with the Browns.
He’ll have to learn a new quarterback, after developing a fine rapport with Dallas’ Tony Romo. But Austin said he likes what he sees from both of Cleveland’s top candidates for the quarterback job — Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel.
“I think he’s a tremendous quarterback,” Austin said of Hoyer. “He can throw the ball. I ran some routes with him earlier in the week and will run some more tomorrow. He can throw the ball and is a smart guy. He’s a great leader.”
Of rookie Manziel, most of what Austin knows is from what he saw on television the last two years when Manziel was at Texas A&M.
“He can obviously make plays,” Austin said of Manziel. “He’s a real instinctive player.
“I’m not a scout or a quarterbacks coach, but I think we have two great quarterbacks. We’re lucky to have them both.”
Austin said the past few months have given him and his wife a chance to learn the city of Cleveland, as well as its fan base. The love-fest between the Browns and their fans was in full force at the softball game. Austin shook hands, waved and signed some autographs as fans crammed to the railing prior to the games start.
It was just one more thing to whet Austin’s appetite as training camp nears.
“I feel like everything is going in the right direction here,” he said. “We’ve got a brand new weight room, new additions to the field (at Cleveland Browns Stadium), the dog as our mascot... now it’s our job as players to make sure we keep going in the right direction.
“It’s been a great experience here so far.”